U.S. patent number 5,370,238 [Application Number 07/989,546] was granted by the patent office on 1994-12-06 for remote control organizer.
Invention is credited to Julian Czajkowski, Eric Watson.
United States Patent |
5,370,238 |
Czajkowski , et al. |
December 6, 1994 |
Remote control organizer
Abstract
A remote control organizer, with releaseable attachment for
securing and supporting a plurality of remote control units, while
said remote control units are in use, which control electronic
entertainment equipment, comprising of two structural members, one
disposed on the other forming an internal storage cavity for a
television program guide and a suitable location for securing and
supporting a cable channel guide. Said organizer having handle
portions to provide a single hand grasping and pick up without the
accidental pushing of buttons on said remote control units.
Inventors: |
Czajkowski; Julian (Chatham,
Ontario, CA), Watson; Eric (Chatham, Ontario,
CA) |
Family
ID: |
4149771 |
Appl.
No.: |
07/989,546 |
Filed: |
December 10, 1992 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
Current U.S.
Class: |
211/26.1;
211/70 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01H
9/025 (20130101); H04B 1/202 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H01H
9/02 (20060101); H04B 1/20 (20060101); A47F
007/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;211/13,70 ;248/676 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Chin-Shue; Alvin C.
Assistant Examiner: Lechok; Sarah A.
Claims
We claim:
1. A remote control organizer having a releaseable attachment means
for securing and supporting a plurality of remote control units of
diverse shapes and sizes, while said remote controls are in use; a
concealed, protected, generally captive and gravity dispensable
storage means for a television program guide; a single hand
grasping, pick up and handling means comprising, in
combination:
a. a housing member having a generally box-like geometry with a top
portion, a front portion, a rear portion, two opposed handle
portions and a rectangular annular bottom portion, said housing
being formed from a single sheet of thermoplastic material via a
vacuum thermoforming process, comprising:
i. said top portion having a rectangular planar geometry
terminating integrally at said front, rear and two opposed handle
portions and furthermore disposed above said annular bottom
portion, said top portion having an exposed planar surface to
support a plurality of remote control units;
ii. said front portion having a generally rectangular geometry
terminating integrally at said top, annular bottom and two opposed
handle portions, generally perpendicular to and downwardly from
plane of said top portion and generally perpendicular to and
upwardly from plane of said annular bottom portion;
iii. said rear portion having a generally rectangular geometry
terminating integrally at said top, annular bottom and two opposed
handle portions, at an obtuse angle to and downwardly from plane of
said top portion and an acute angle to and upwardly from plane of
said annular bottom portion;
iv. said two opposed handle portions, providing left and right
handles for said remote control organizer, each said handle
terminating integrally with and extending outwardly from said top,
front and rear portions and terminating integrally with said
annular bottom portion, each said handle having an integrally
formed outside vertical generally quadrilateral wall portion and an
inside vertical wall portion separated from one another on three
outwardly extending sides by an integrally formed multiple-ribbed
portion, said multiple-ribbed portion positioned longitudinally
from front to rear of said housing having a center rib extending
upwardly from adjacent ribs, thereby providing structural rigidity,
through geometry, and a guaranteed means of single hand pick up,
without accidental remote control unit button pushing, of said
remote control organizer;
v. said annular bottom portion integrally terminating with and
extending outwardly from said front, rear and two opposed handle
portions, having a right angle cross-section such that the exposed
edge extends downwardly thereby providing a receiving and location
means; and,
b. a base member having a generally rectangular planar geometry
with a front, rear and two opposed side edges, said front and two
opposed side edges being secured within said right-angled
cross-section of said annular bottom portion of said housing member
such that there is essentially intimate contact along said front
and two opposed side edges of said base with said annular portion
thereby providing structural rigidity to said remote control
organizer;
c. said remote control organizer having an essentially 100 per cent
useable internal storage cavity bounded by said housing member and
said base member where said storage cavity is accessed by a
generally rectangular opening, said opening lies in the same plane
as said base member, bounded by said rear edge of said base member
and said annular bottom portion of said housing, in general
proximity to said rear portion of said housing, said cavity and
said opening provides accessable storage of said television guide,
furthermore said rear portion of said housing having said angles in
combination with said opening allows for dispensing of said
television guide from said storage cavity due to gravity when said
remote control organizer is tilted front to back at an inclined
angle to about 60 degrees and about 90 degrees relative to the
horizontal, thereby providing concealed and protected storage with
significantly reduced risk of accidental fall-out of said program
guide thereby allowing for highly mobile use of said remote control
organizer.
2. The remote control organizer of claim 1, wherein the external
surfaces of said organizer are lightly textured.
3. The remote control organizer of claim 1, wherein said front
portion has a higher elevation than said rear portion.
4. The remote control organizer of claim 1, further comprising: a
plurality of elastomeric feet adhesively bonded to exposed bottom
surface of said base member and said feet positioned at four
corners on said exposed surface where height of said feet provides
a clearance between the bottom edge of said remote control
organizer and a planar supporting surface, said clearance allows
grasping means of said remote control organizer by human fingers
thereby enhancing single hand pick up of said remote control
organizer from said supporting surface and furthermore said feet
provide anti-mar and anti-skid characteristics to said remote
control organizer when positioned on said supporting surface.
5. The remote control organizer of claim 1, further comprising:
said exposed surface of said base member in combination with
double-sided tape provides a location and releaseable attachment
means, respectively, to support said cable guide.
6. A remote control organizer comprising, in combination:
a. a means for securing and supporting a plurality of remote
control units, while said remote control units are in use;
b. a concealed, protected, generally captive and gravity
dispensable storage means for a television program guide, thereby
providing for nonaccidental fall-out of said program guide from
said remote control organizer under intended handling conditions of
said remote control organizer and further providing easy dispensing
of said program guide from said remote control organizer, due to
gravity, when said remote control organizer is orientated in a
predetermined manner; and,
c. a single hand grasping and pick up means without the accidental
pushing of buttons on said remote control units, comprising of two
opposed handle portions , each providing a left and a right handle
for said remote control organizer, each said handle having a
multiple-ribbed portion positioned longitudinally from front to
rear of said remote control organizer, said multiple-ribbed portion
comprising an inner rib with higher elevation than the adjacent
remote control unit supporting surface and a lower elevation than
the adjoining rib, thereby providing an ergonomically acceptable
single hand grasping and pick up means of said remote control
organizer without the accidental pushing of buttons on said remote
control units.
Description
The present invention relates generally to an article of
manufacture to be used in conjunction with electronic entertainment
equipment. More particularly, said article relates to organizing
multiple hand held remote control units, while in user for
controlling television, video cassette recorder, and stereo
component equipment (compact disc players, stereo receivers, etc.).
In addition, said article of this invention has provision for
storage of television program guide and location for cable channel
guide.
It is common for users of electronic entertainment equipment to
handle multiple remote control units for said equipment as well as
television program guides and cable channel guides at essentially
the same time, therefore resulting in unnecessary complexity of
handling said remote controls and guides. Said complexity commonly
results in misplacement and also potential damage of said remote
controls and guides. Said misplacement and potential damage is
further enhanced in the presence of unsupervised pets and small
children.
The disadvantages of remote control holders, as defined in the
following U.S. patents are:
i) In U.S. Pat. No. 5,042,670 to Timberlake, the geometry of the
rack structure is limited to supporting only two remote controls as
well as limits the compatibility to universally receive remote
controls of diverse shapes and sizes. The strap fastening means for
remote control fastening is restrictive with regards to having the
remote control buttons exposed for use. The basic geometrical
layout creates an article which is expensive to manufacture and
does not address the need for ease of mobility to place the said
rack out of reach of unsupervised pets and small children. The side
by side orientation of television program guide, remote control
support and video cassette recorder tape support creates a
placement area requirement for said rack which is not compact.
Although the television program guide is exposed for use, said
guide is also exposed to become easily damaged.
ii) In U.S. Pat. No. 4,911,892 to Burrell, although the holder is
cost effective to manufacture, any one of the disclosed embodiments
is unduly restrictive due to the pre-selected number of fastening
faces for remote controls. Furthermore, the disclosed embodiments
are only intended for use in the operator's hand, requiring the
operator to move said holder from its' normally stored position and
orientating the said article to access the desired remote control
and further orientation for its' use. Although partially addressed,
we believe this excessive manipulation would result in accidental
pushing of buttons on said remote controls. Burrell also discloses
embodiments for accepting literature that would require excessive
handling while retrieving and storing the said literature. Said
excessive handling would also result in accidental damage to said
literature. Yet another disadvantage of Burrell's disclosed
embodiments is poor stability in the stored position due to the
high center of gravity and lack of anti-skid feet.
iii) In U.S. Pat. No. 4,991,817 to VonKleist et al., has disclosed
a caddy where the principal structure comprises of four separate
members which need to be structurally joined together resulting in
an unduly complex assembly creating unnecessary cost. Vonkleist et
al. was remiss in addressing the need for easy mobility and use in
hand with regards to single hand pick up from the surface on which
the caddy rests without accidentally pushing the buttons on the
fastened remote controls on said caddy. VonKleist et al. discloses
a storage compartment for an entertainment guide of which defined
geometry results in undue restriction to the depth of said
insertion being a fraction of the overall cavity depth due to the
thickness of the said guide. As the thickness of the said guide
increases, the allowable said insertion depth decreases resulting
in less utilization of the said storage compartment. Also, as the
said utilization of the said storage compartment decreases, the
likelihood of accidental damage to said guide and its' ease of
fall-out during handling of said caddy increases. Furthermore, the
disclosed opening of the said storage compartment also results in
ease of fall-out of said guide of any size during handling of said
caddy.
iv) In U.S. Pat. No. 4,911,389 to Self, has disclosed a bracket
assembly with side rails which does not address the need for easy
mobility and use in hand with regards to single hand pick up from
the surface on which the said bracket assembly rests without
accidentally pushing the buttons on the adhered instruments on said
bracket assembly. Self also did not consider the need for
literature storage. We have found the disclosed geometry to be
wasteful in the use of "Velcro". The disclosed embodiment of the
bracket assembly is unduly limited due to the relationship of the
number of fingers, shapes and sizes of instruments and variable
locations of battery compartments thereon, increasing the risk of
the instrument "Velcro" portions bridging the joints of said
battery compartments thereby making battery changes difficult and
the need to replace the "Velcro" due to the degradation of the said
"Velcro" adhesive on disassembly. Another limitation of Self's
embodiments is the requirement to have at least one instrument
bridge at least one finger on each subunit thereby restricting
users' choice for instrument positioning. Other disadvantages of
Self's disclosed embodiments are poor stability while resting on
its' support surface due to the lack of anti-skid feet and
potential marring on its' support surface due to the lack of
anti-marring feet.
v) In U.S. Pat. No. 4,856,658 to Novak, has disclosed a holder for
remote control units, said holder is unduly complex in its' use of
interlocking teeth to adjust to the width of the said remote
control unit and its' use of mortise and mating tenon to join
holders for extra said remote control units and therefore the
number of component members are excessive. Novak also did not
consider the need for literature storage. Other disadvantages of
Novak's embodiments are poor stability while resting on its'
support surface due to the lack of anti-skid feet and potential
marring on its' support surface due to the lack of anti-marring
feet.
vi) In U.S. Pat. No. 4,852,746 to Wells et al., has disclosed an
electronic control unit storing apparatus of defined geometry,
where each electronic control unit has its' individual exterior
cell, the disclosed embodiments do not provide for the averaging of
the combined widths of multiple electronic control units, thereby
increasing the likelihood of any one electronic control unit not
fitting said exterior cell. Furthermore, the said geometry requires
the operator to orientate the said apparatus to access the desired
said electronic control unit. The manipulation required to obtain
the said orientation would result in accidental pushing of buttons
on said electronic control units. Wells et al. also discloses
embodiments of which an interior cell is capable of receiving
articles for storage and when the stored article is literature,
excessive handling is required while retreiving and storing said
literature (ie. literature curling). Said excessive handling would
also result in accidental damage to said literature. Other
disadvantages of Wells et. al.'s embodiments are poor stability
while resting on its' support surface due to the lack of anti-skid
feet and potential marring on its' support surface due to the lack
of anti-marring feet.
vii) In U.S. Pat. No. 4,848,609 to Meghnot, has disclosed a device
for holding only two separate remote control units. Meghnot also
did not consider the need for literature storage. Other
disadvantages of Meghnot's disclosed embodiment are poor stability
while resting on its' support surface due to the lack of anti-skid
feet and potential marring on its' support surface due to the lack
of anti-marring feet.
viii) In U.S. Pat. No. 4,838,505 to Lowe, has disclosed a holder
for remote controllers, said holder has the same disadvantages as
described under U.S. Pat. No. 4,911,892 to Burrell with the
exception of anti-skid feet.
ix) In U.S. Pat. No. 4,824,059 to Butler, has disclosed an improved
cushioning device for remote control television equipment which
unduly limits the compatibility to universally receive remote
controls of diverse shapes and sizes. More particularly the open
cavity therein adapted to grippingly receive a remote control
device will have dimensions such that only a particular family of
remote controls having required size will fit the said open cavity.
Butler also discloses a pocket for reception of a television
program guide that would require excessive manipulation to insert
said guide. Said excessive manipulation would also result in
accidental damage to said guide.
x) In U.S. Pat. No. 4,815,683 to Ferrante, has disclosed a holder
for TV/VCR remote control units, said holder is simply a storage
device not intended for receiving remote control units while said
remote control units are in use.
xi) In U.S. Pat. No. 4,739,887 to Beach, has disclosed a rack for
storing stereo and television remote control devices which has the
same disadvantages as U.S. Pat. No. 4,815,683 to Ferrante.
xii) In U.S. Pat. No. 4,712,693 to Striplin, has disclosed a device
for supporting remote control units, said device is unduly complex
with regards to clutching indexing method, bearings, shaft, base
and rotating member for remote control unit mounting. Another
disadvantage of said device is that orientation is required to
select desired remote control unit and also this manipulation would
result in accidental pushing of buttons on said remote control
unit. Striplin's disclosed embodiments are also restrictive due to
the requirement of the pre-selected number of remote control units.
Striplin also did not consider the need for literature storage.
Further disadvantages of Striplin's disclosed embodiments are poor
stability while resting on its' support surface due to the lack of
anti-skid feet and potential marring on its' support surface due to
the lack of anti-marring feet.
xiii) In U.S. Pat. No. 4,709,412 to Seymour et al., has disclosed
an infrared remote control unit integrator console, said console is
unduly complex with regards to detectors, amplifiers and emittors
which would become cost prohibitive. Seymour et al. also did not
consider the need for literature storage.
xiv) In U.S. Pat. No. 4,660,792 to Rogalski, has disclosed a holder
for VCR and TV remote controls, said holder would unduly limit the
compatibility to universally receive remote controls of diverse
shapes and sizes. Furthermore, the remote control fastening method
is restrictive with regards to having the remote control buttons
exposed for use due to the diverse shapes, sizes, placement and
orientation of remote control buttons. Rogalski also did not
consider the need for literature storage.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an article of
manufacture which will overcome all of the above said disadvantages
in a simple, compact, light-weight, easily handled (highly mobile),
durable, low cost manner for use on coffee tables, users' laps,
floors, and in users' hands. Accordingly, the present invention
comprises: a remote control organizer having releaseable attachment
means for securing and supporting a plurality of remote control
units of diverse shapes and sizes, while said remote controls are
in use; a concealed, protected, generally captive and gravity
dispensable storage means for a television program guide; a means
for securing and supporting a cable channel guide, independently of
other literature, while said cable channel guide is in use; a
single hand grasping, pick up and handling means, without the
accidental pushing of buttons on said remote controls, thereby
providing quick and easy handling (mobility) of said remote control
organizer, while said remote control organizer is in use and when
placed out of reach of unsupervised pets and small children.
The above and other objects and advantages of the present invention
will be better appreciated and understood from the following
detailed description and the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Referring to the drawings, wherein like elements are numbered alike
in the several FIGURES.
FIG. 1 is a perspective front view of the embodiment of the remote
control organizer in use, setting on a supporting surface.
FIG. 2 is a rear elevation view of the remote control organized on
a supporting surface, illustrating a single hand grasp of said
organizer.
FIG. 3 is a perspective rear view of the remote control organizer
in use, a hand held illustration.
FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the remote control organizer depicting
a location of user installed releaseable attachment means.
FIG. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 5--5 in FIG.4,
of the remote control organizer resting on a horizontal support
surface.
FIG. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 6--6 in
FIG.4.
FIG. 7 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 7--7 in FIG.4,
of the remote control organizer inclined at an angle approximately
60 to 90 degrees to the horizontal surface, partially dispensed
television program guide.
FIG. 8 is a bottom plan view of the remote control organizer
depicting a location for securing and supporting a cable channel
guide.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to FIGS. 5 to 8, inclusive, the remote control organizer
10 comprises of two major structural components, housing 20 and
base 50. Said housing 20 is formed from a single sheet of
thermoplastic material by the vacuum thermoforming process. It
should be appreciated that the said housing 20 could be produced
using other processes, such as injection molding, but it is
believed that the vacuum thermoforming process is the most cost
effective, especially if initial tooling costs are considered. Base
50 is an essentially rectangular flat planar member which is simply
produced by cutting from a flat sheet material. Generally
rectangular annular portion 29 having skirt portion 31 is designed
to receive and locate said base 50. Said housing 20 and said base
50 are simply joined together using hot melt adhesive (not shown).
It should be appreciated that other joining means, such as snap
fits, could be utilized. Elastomeric feet 70 are joined at each
corner of exposed planar surface 52 of said base 50 with adhesive
(not shown), thereby providing anti-skid and anti-mar
characteristics to said organizer 10 when resting on horizontal
support surface 300, as best illustrated in FIG. 5.
As best seen in FIGS. 1 to 4, inclusive, generally rectangular
surface portion 26 of said housing 20 is designed to support remote
control units of diverse shapes and sizes (shown in phantom). There
is no practical limitation to the length of said remote control
units to be supported on said surface portion 26 since said remote
control units may extend outwardly beyond outside front surface 33
of said housing 20, said outside front surface 33 can be best seen
in FIG. 1. Again, referring to FIGS. 1 to 4, inclusive, the width
of said surface portion 26 is bounded by right handle portion 21
and left handle portion 22 of said housing 20. It should be
appreciated, said width can be selected to accomodate any plurality
of said remote control units of diverse shapes and sizes. In the
interest of compactness it has been determined that said width
being approximately eight inches will accomodate the average of the
combined widths of the vast majority of the diverse shapes, sizes
and quantity of said remote control units normally found in North
American households. It should also be appreciated that said
surface portion 26 can be inclined at a non-zero angle relative to
the plane of said base 50 to enhance user visibility and operation
of buttons on said remote control units. Referring to FIG. 4, said
remote controls are releaseably attached to said surface portion 26
by user installed "Velcro" hook buttons 80 on said surface portion
26 and "Velcro" loop buttons 90 on the supporting face of said
remote controls. It should be appreciated that said "Velcro" loop
buttons 90 will not snag users' clothing while using or servicing
the said remote control unit independent of said organizer 10. It
has been determined that for each of said remote control units,
four sets of said "Velcro" hook and loop buttons, 80 and 90,
approximately one-half inch in diameter, will provide adequate
fastening means to overcome gravity and mechanical shock
encountered during normal use of said organizer 10. It should be
appreciated said quantity and size of said "Velcro" buttons, 80 and
90, is not wasteful in said useage. It should be further
appreciated said user installed "Velcro" loop buttons 90
significantly reduces the risk of bridging the joint between
battery compartment cover and body of said remote control unit
eliminating the wastage and user inconvenience of removing said
"Velcro" loop button 90 during battery replacement of said remote
control unit. The positioning of said "Velcro" buttons 80 and 90,
as illustrated, are generally concealed from view when said remote
control units are installed on said organizer 10, thereby
preventing accidental snagging to articles, such as clothing, onto
said "Velcro" hook buttons 80.
As best illustrated in FIG. 6, said right handle portion 21 and
said left handle portion 22 of said housing 20 has an elevated
geometry relative to said surface portion 26 providing structural
rigidity for said housing 20. It should be appreciated said
structural rigidity allows for thinner said sheet useage hence less
cost and less weight for said housing 20. Said handle portions 21
and 22 further comprises of rib portions 23, 24 and 25. Said rib
portions further enhance said structural rigidity. Center rib
portion 23 of said handle portions 21 and 22 is of a higher
elevation than inner rib portion 24 and outer rib portion 25. Said
rib portions 24 and 25 are essentially of the same elevation.
Referring to FIG. 2, the width of said rib portion 24 guarantees
clearance between said rib portion 23 and said user installed
remote control units. Said clearance in combination with said
higher elevation of said rib portion 23 relative to said rib
portion 24 provides an ergonomically acceptable grasping means for
the user's thumb, shown in phantom, thereby allowing single hand
pick up of the said organizer 10 from horizontal support surface
300 without the accidental pushing of buttons on said remote
control units. It should be appreciated said grasping means
provides easy and convenient mobility and hand held use of said
organizer 10 as best illustrated in FIG. 3. Again referring to FIG.
2, the elevation clearance generated between bottom edge portion 32
of said housing 20 and said support surface 300 is provided by the
elevation of said feet 70 further enhances said grasping means of
said organizer 10 by allowing the user's fore finger tip, shown in
phantom, to grip said edge 32.
Referring to FIGS. 5, 7, and 8, three edge surfaces of said base 50
are essentially in physical contact with said skirt 31. It should
be appreciated that said physical contact significantly enhances
the structural rigidity of said organizer 10. Exposed edge surface
51 of said base 50 is remotely positioned and essentially parallel
to inside rear surface 27 resulting in a rectangular opening
between said base 50 and said housing 20 in the same plane as said
base 50 for receiving television program guide 100. The space
between said housing 20 and said base 50 defines a storage cavity
where the elevation of said inside rear surface 27 of said housing
20 with respect to the planar surface of said base 50 and suitable
dimensions for said rectangular opening allows for storage of said
guide 100 having various thicknesses. It should be appreciated that
this geometry provides essentially 100 per cent. utilization of the
cross-sectional area of said organizer 10 in the same plane as said
base 50 for the storage of said guide 100. It should be further
appreciated that said geometry substantially reduces the chance of
accidental fall-out of said guide 100 during intended handling of
said organizer 10.
With reference to FIG. 7, said rear surface 27 has an inclined
angle of about 70 degrees relative to the plane of said base 50.
Said inclined angle in combination with said rectangular opening
allows for convenient dispensing of said guide 100 from said
storage cavity, due to gravity, when said organizer 10 is
intentionally tilted to an inclined angle of about 60 degrees to
about 90 degrees relative to the horizontal, as illustrated. It
should be appreciated that in any other orientation during intended
handling of said organizer 10, the guide 100 will be retained in
said storage cavity. The said geometry provides concealed,
protected, generally captive and gravity dispensable storage means
for said guide 100 most often found in North American
households.
With reference to FIG. 8, said planar surface 52 of said base 50
provides a rectangular area suitable for supporting user installed
cable channel guide 200 by means of double-sided adhesive tape 201,
thereby providing additional utility and convenience of said
organizer 10.
It should be appreciated that the exposed viewed surfaces of said
housing 20 as generally seen in FIGS. 1 and 3 as well as said
exposed planar surface 52 of said base 50 as seen in FIG. 8 maybe
lightly textured to significantly reduce common problems of
imperfections and fingerprinting on flat surfaces without a
significant negative effect on adhesive bonds.
Said organizer 10 as shown and described is a simple, compact,
light-weight, easily handled (highly mobile), durable, low cost
remote control organizer for use on coffee tables, users' laps,
floors, in users' hands comprising: releaseable attachment means
for securing and supporting a plurality of remote control units of
diverse shapes and sizes, while said remote controls are in use; a
concealed, protected, generally captive and gravity dispensable
storage means for a television program guide; a means for securing
and supporting a cable channel guide, independently of other
literature, while said cable channel guide is in use; a single hand
grasping, pick up and handling means, without the accidental
pushing of buttons on said remote controls, thereby providing quick
and easy handling (mobility) of said remote control organizer,
while said remote control organizer is in use and when placed cut
of reach of unsupervised pets and small children.
Many changes and modifications in the above described embodiment of
the invention can, of course, be carried out without departing from
the scope thereof. Accordingly, that scope is intended to be
limited only by the scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *